Saint-O-Lanterns

.: Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns :.

Our Lady of Fatima

by Ranger

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary's Rose

by Twinkle Toes

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Holy Innocents

by Chiquita

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Immaculate Heart of Mary

by Rose and Chiquita

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St. Andrew's Fish

by Captain and Bud

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IHS

by Snuggles & Chiquita

You can see the kids carving this year's Saint-O-Lanterns here,

or scroll through all our past Saint-O-Lanterns in the archives.

Carving Our 2017 Saint-O-Lanterns

This year, following a field trip to the working farm and pumpkin patch, we ended up with lots of tiny pumpkins to carve. The kids went back to the farm last Sunday afternoon to go through their giant corn maze and brought back one more, much larger, pumpkin to carve too. They were all completely on their own this year, but the teens helped their younger siblings and they all did such a great job!

     

Inspired by the image on Chiquita's Miracle of the Sun T-Shirt, our 15 year old carved the large pumpkin with an image of Our Lady of Fatima, Sister Lucia, and Saints Francisco and Jacinta to commemorate this year's 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions.

      

You can see this year's Saint-O-Lanterns all lit up here,

or scroll through all our past Saint-O-Lanterns in the archives.

All Souls' Day Mass at the Cemetery

This morning we visited the cemetery for our 12th annual All Souls' Day Mass offered for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, particularly those of our departed family and friends. ♥

The Catholic Child and the Souls in Purgatory

My dear Child: The Holy Souls in Purgatory need your help. You can do so much for them; they can do nothing for themselves. 

  

 

Their time of merit is past; they have saved their souls; they are the friends of God; but they must suffer until they are fit to be admitted to the presence of God. 

Perhaps your own relatives are waiting there, hoping that they will soon be released. 

How you should pity them! How fervently you should pray for them. When they reach heaven, they will not forget you. 

A Prayer for the Holy Souls

O DEAR Jesus! have mercy on the Souls in Purgatory. Have pity on them, dear Lord, and do not keep them long in their pain. Let them come to Thee in heaven to be happy with Thee forever. Amen. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord! And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. 

Excerpt from Jesus, Make Me Worthy - A reprint of the original can be found here

A plenary indulgence, applicable only to the Poor Souls in Purgatory during the Octave of All Saints’ Day (November 1st though November 8th) is granted to those who visit a cemetery and pray even if only mentally for the departed.

Celebrating the Saints :: Our 2017 Costumes

Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Augustine, St. Francisco Marto, Our Lady of Fatima, St. Jacinta Marto, Sister Lucia Santos, St. Maximilian Kolbe and St. Francis Xavier - All Saints in Heaven, Pray for us! 

.: St. Maximilian Kolbe & St. Augustine :.

Like last year, the boys decided to wear "saintly" t-shirts representing their confirmation saints! Captain (17) is wearing his St. Maximilian t-shirt that he received at the beginning of this school year and Ranger (15) is wearing his brand new St. Augustine t-shirt that arrived in the most recent box from Catholic T-Shirt Club last week! Perfect timing!!

.: Our Lady of Fatima :. 

Sister Lucia and Saints Jacinta & Francisco

Twinkle Toes (14) as Our Lady of Fatima, Bud (age 5) as St. Francisco, Chiquita (age 12) as Sister Lucia, and Rose (age 7) as St. Jacinta

Three of the girls convinced their youngest brother to dress up as St. Francisco to go along with their costumes. They were inspired by the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions and the canonizations of Francisco and Jacinta earlier this year! 

.: St. Francis Xavier :. 

Snuggles (age 10) as St. Francis Xavier

.: Our Lady of Guadalupe :.

Grace (4 months) as Our Lady of Guadalupe

This favorite costume - made by her Grandma for one of her older sisters over 10 years ago - was a little big on her, but I'm pretty sure it will be too small next year so we made it work!

You can scroll through all our past costumes here.

Happy Feast of All Saints!